Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 327 -338, 1994

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

THE LOCATION OF MAJOR OIL- AND GAS FIELDS:
EXAMPLES FROM THE ANDEAN FORELAND

J.-C. Pratsch*

* 13711 Butterfly Lane, Houston, Texas, USA.

Abstract

In all producing basins, most of the oil and/or gas reserves are concentrated in a minority of fields. This distribution of oil and gas reserves is the result of "focusing" during lateral and vertical basin-wide migration. Although the physico-chemical and geological processes involved in hydrocarbons migration are not yet fully clarified, lateral migration directions can be established by integrating geological, geophysical and geochemical data. The Petroleum Systems concept is of use here. When combining Petroleum Systems data with well-controlled regional structure maps, areas of hydrocarbons concentration (i.e. migration focusing) can be defined as areas of the highest exploration potential.